Alex not Joe; Jim not Bill on practice-ending drive

At the end of the 49ers’ Fan Fest practice at Candlestick, Harbaugh, in a nod to Niners’ history, recreated the circumstances leading up to The Catch.

The scoreboard clock: 4:54.

The score: Cowboys 27, 49ers 21.

The ball was placed at the 8-yard line (the Niners actually started at the 11 in the 1982 NFC Championship game) and the first-team offense was headed to the same end zone with three timeouts left.

The only thing missing was Hank Stram and Vin Scully in the booth and Tom Landry’s fedora.

The 2011 Niners failed to repeat history. Alex Smith, scrambling to his left, was sacked — two-hand-touch style — on fourth down inside the five-yard line, inspiring a crescendo of boos.

But Harbaugh noted his own failing.

“Well, we didn’t get it in the end zone, but I thought it was good drive,” Harbaugh said. “A lot of things that we learned from on it. I know I did … I probably should have run the ball when we got down there on the goal line with that much time left and two timeouts.”

I’m not sure Harbaugh was being entirely serious. The 49ers focused on their passing game Sunday and the practice-ending drive did not include a running play.

If nothing else, though, Harbaugh’s comment was a reminder of Walsh’s offensive genius. And it now provides an excuse to harken back to happier times for Niners’ fans: Jan. 10, 1982.

Here’s a look at San Francisco’s 13-play drive, which featured a surprisingly heavy dose of late running Lenvil Elliott and a surprise reverse to Freddie Solomon (from official NFL gamebook).

S.F. 4:54

1/10/11: Montana’s pass for Elliott was incomplete.

2/10/11: Elliott went up the middle, stopped by Waters after a gain of 6.

3/4/17: Montana passed to Solomon in the left flat for 6, tackled immediately by Thurman.

1/10/23: Elliott got around RE for 11, Thurman making the tackle.

1/10/34: Elliott gained 7 around the left side, Waters and Thurman making the tackle.